Post partum piles/possible fissure. IN AGONY.

[CandleARBRA]

I gave birth last week and ended up with horrendous piles.

They've all shrunk down massively except one. I am in unbearable pain which comes on (seemingly randomly) then takes a few hours to subside. The pain is a deep burning stabbing pain.

I am taking paracetamol, ibuprofen, and (if desperate) dihydrocodeine. I am using a stool softener, prescription only suppositories and ointment, taking shallow hot baths, I've even used sugar to shrink it down (with moderate success) - but the pain is just miserable and is interfering with looking after my baby - I can just about manage to feed and change her but interacting in any other way while in such pain is just impossible, and I am mostly on my own as DP is working.

I am wondering if this is actually a fissure rather than piles causing the pain.

Has anyone else had an ordeal with this sort of thing after having a baby and got through it? Please give me any words of wisdom, advice, encouragement as I'm at the end of my tether.

😢😢😢😢

Bump

If the pain is this severe you need medical attention. Ring 111 and go from there.

You should be able to ring the postnatal ward and head in to be seen. You’re still under their care.

I had the same after birth. I would recommend getting someone to have a look so they can be sure what it is. I had a thrombosed pile, a big one, that was causing the pain. Can you get someone to get a rubber ring to sit on? I couldn’t sit down comfortably for days and that really helped.

It’s a long time ago but I think they can give you some ointment to numb the area too. Sorry you are suffering - it’s the last thing you need!

@ChampagneRose Thankfully have a ring cushion for a bit of relief when sitting. Do you remember what happened with your thrombosed one, as in how long did it take to calm down in terms of pain?

My back passage was inspected just after birth and then again when in theatre for stitches (small episiotomy). Then a third time when on the ward as in so much pain. No one seemed to think anything other than piles.

It was about 10 days to 2 weeks and then it went down on its own. The doctor did say that in some countries they will actually pierce it to release the pressure which gets rid of the pain but it’s not something they like to do here (I remember thinking great! At that point I would quite happily have taken a knife to the bloody thing myself if I had thought I wouldn’t chop off a labia by mistake!)

@ChampagneRose Thanks this gives me hope. The worst day was 3 days postpartum, hopefully it'll be better soon.

How are you doing today? Feeling any better?

@ChampagneRose thanks for thinking of me! Yesterday was a good day, pain was almost gone, then early this morning it's come back but not as badly as before. Have topped up my painkillers and got on top of it. Feeling a bit more hopeful. I really was in despair before and couldn't imagine living with the pain long term.

Post partum is no joke, I really wish it was talked about more. And I am relatively unscathed compared to some.

That’s a relief - hopefully you’re over the worst of it now! I know what you mean - we’re just expected to get on with it but the pain can be excruciating. We had someone in our baby group who had to have reconstructive surgery down there afterwards - poor woman suffered terribly.